Casket flower holder



May 18, 1943 w, LIVIN TON 2,319,243

CASKET FLOWER HOLDER Filed April 11, 1942 Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 2,319,243 CASKET FLOWER HOLDER Walter Livingston, Hastings, Nebr.

Application April 11, 1942, Serial No. 438,655

Claims.

As is well known, sprays of flowers will slide ofi or blow from the lid of a burial casket, the result being distracting confusion and disorder. Spray holders heretofore invented have not passed into general use, because they are difficult to apply, unsightly, expensive to manufacture and incapable of securing a firm hold on the casket lid, it being obvious that if a device of the class described comes apart or loses its hold, the appearance is more unsightly than would have been the case if the spray had simply been laid on the casket lid, running the chance of having the spray blown away or dislodged otherwise.

The present invention aims to provide a device of the sort under consideration, which will avoid the undesirable consequences above alluded to.

A mechanic who abides by what is claimed may make changes in the precise structure shown, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates in end elevation a coffln having the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of a band and its cooperating anchor.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp in a partially assembled position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the completely assembled.

Fig, 5 is a sectional view through the clamp.

In carrying out the invention, there is provideda retainer, in the form of a flexible and preferably resilient band I, supplied at each end with an anchor 2, the anchors being alike.

Each anchor embodies a bowed spring 3, the inner end 20 of which is rounded, so that it may be introduced between the side wall of a coffin 4 and the lid 5 thereof. Near its outer end, the spring 3 is provided with notches or seats 6 in its opposite edges.

The band I is folded transversely, as at I, to form a double-walled loop 8, and is folded transversely as at 9, to form a double-walled loop lo, the band being folded a third time, as at ll, between the folds 1 and 9, to transform the loop l0 into an upper loop, and to transform the loop 8 into a lower loop. The outer end of the spring 3 is inserted between the inner walls of the loops 8 and III. A binder l4, made of heavy thread, is given a turn or two around the loops l0 and 8, and is received in the notches or seats 6 of the spring 3. This is done in order to hold the retainer l temporarily assembled with the spring device terminates short of the notches or seats 6. The

reason for having the tongues I2 is in order that the spring 3 may be provided at its outer end with a gripping pad of considerable thickness, which will be mentioned hereinafter. The reason for terminating the tongue l2 in spaced relation to the seat 6 is that if there are too many layers to be engaged by the binder M, it is increasingly difiicult to tie the binder tightly in place.

The binder I4 is surrounded by an enclosing clamp l 5, tightly engaged about both of the loops I0 and 8, and received in the notches or seats 6. The clamp l5, which is made of strong but bendable metal, comprises an upper arm I! and a. lower arm l6, the lower arm being supplied with a rectangular prong I8, which passes through both walls of the loop I 0, until the prong touches the spring 3 and perhaps is turned over a little by contact with the spring. The upper arm I! is bent transversely, to overlap the lower arm l6, and the spring 3 is securely assembled with the band I. The bottom part of the clamp I5 lies between the upper and lower walls of the loop 8 and most of the clamp is hidden from sight. Moreover, the clamp l5 forms a shoulder, across which the bend I may be made.

When the inner end of the bowed spring 3 is inserted between the side wall of the coffin 4 and the lid 5 thereof, the spring is flattened out to a considerable extent and acquires a firm hold on the coffin lid. The outer portions of the loops 8 and 10 form, as has been intimated hereinbefore, a pad of considerable thickness, which the operator can grip firmly between the thumb and forefinger whilst the spring 3 is being introduced between the coilin and the lid.

The article is simple in construction and a description of the operation seems unnecessary in view of what is shown in the drawing and in view of what has been stated hereinbefore. An efilcient means is'supplied for holding a spray of iigwers or the like on the upper surface of a coflin Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a device for holding a spray of vegetation, or the like, on a cofiin lid, a flexible retainer, anchors insertable between the box and the lid of a coffin, means for connecting the anchors to the end portions of the retainer, and enlarged pads, formed from portions of the retainer, and located at the places where the an- .chors are assembled with the retainer, to conbinders and the clamps extending through therespective notches.

3. A device for holding a spray of vegetation, or the like, on a coflin lid: constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said means comprises flexible binders engaged around portions of the retainer and portions of the anchors, and metal clamp strips extended around the hinders, the clamp strips embodying overlapped arms,

4. In a device for holding a spray of vegetation, or the like, on a coflin lid, 9, flexible retainer and an anchor at each end of the retainer, at least one anchor comprising double-walled loops, formed in the retainer, a bowed spring extended at one end between the inner walls of the loops and having oppositely-disposed seats in its edges, and a transverse fastening means engaged about the loops and passing through the seats, the inner wall of one loop being extended across the end of the spring to form a tongue disposed between the spring and the inner wall of the other loop, the tongue terminating in spaced relation to the seats and the fastening means, the tongue and the outer portions of the loops cooperating to form an enlarged manipulating pad.

5. In a device for holding a, spray of vegetation,

' -or the like, on a coffin lid, a flexible retainer,

spring strips, and means for securing the inner ends of the strips to the ends of the retainer, the strips being of single-armed construction, to permit ready insertion between the box and the lid of a cofiin, and being bowed transversely, whereby they may be flattened between the box and the one of which is provided with a prong which is 25 lid and acquire an anchorage hold on the lid.

engaged with the retainer.

'W ALTER LIVINGSTON. 

